Long-term exposure to arsenic in water may increase cardiovascular disease and especially heart disease risk even at exposure levels below the federal regulatory limit (10µg/L) according to a new study at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. The researchers compared various time windows of exposure, finding that the previous decade of water arsenic exposure up to the time of a cardiovascular disease event contributed the greatest risk. The findings shed light on critical time windows of arsenic exposure that contribute to heart disease and support the need for regulatory standards to protect health. Arsenic exposure increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, and even though the federal limit was reduced in 2006, drinking water remains an important source of exposure in certain regions.
The study evaluated the relationship between long-term arsenic exposure from community water systems (CWS) and cardiovascular disease by using statewide healthcare administrative and mortality records collected for the California Teachers Study cohort over a period of three decades. The analysis included over 98,000 participants, with most residing in areas served by a CWS. The research found that decade-long arsenic exposure up to the time of a cardiovascular disease event was associated with the greatest risk, highlighting the importance of examining various exposure windows in understanding the development of ischemic heart disease. Nearly half of the participants were exposed to arsenic concentrations below California’s non-cancer public health goal.
The study results emphasize the serious health consequences of arsenic exposure not only when community water systems do not meet regulatory standards but also at levels below the current standard. The research found a 20 percent risk at arsenic exposures ranging from 5 to 10µg/L, which indicates the need for a renewed discussion of current policy and regulatory standards. More research is required to fully understand the risks associated with different levels of arsenic exposure that CWS users currently experience, but the data and methods developed in this study can inform future research on drinking water exposures and health outcomes.
The study was supported by the National Cancer Institute and various other grants, emphasizing the importance of continued research in this area to expand our knowledge of the health risks associated with arsenic exposure. More investigations are needed to further evaluate the impact of different levels of arsenic exposure on cardiovascular and other health outcomes, allowing for a more comprehensive understanding of the potential health risks posed by arsenic in drinking water. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the relationship between arsenic exposure and cardiovascular disease, supporting the need for ongoing efforts to protect public health from harmful contaminants in drinking water.